Celebrating Sporting Achievement

Encouraging girls’ participation in sport is an important aspect of the mission of Our Lady’s College. Recognising the invaluable contribution that being active makes to general physical and mental wellbeing, students at the school are encouraged to participate in one or more of a range of sports on offer in the school including Gaelic football, camogie, soccer, basketball, volleyball, rugby and athletics. Golfers are also encouraged to participate in schools’ competitions. The school also recognises and encourages student participation in a wide range of team and individual sporting pursuits outside school.

This year marks the launch of a new initiative designed to heighten even further awareness of the myriad benefits associated with an active healthy lifestyle. Speaking about the project, Maths, Business and Economics teacher Michelle Claffey, herself an award-winning Irish rugby player with 14 caps for the Irish Women’s Rugby team (2018-2022) and 24 caps for Leinster rugby (2012-2021) explains that every month students will have the opportunity to nominate peers on the basis of sporting achievement whether as individual or team player.

Drawing on her own success as a sports star on the national stage, Michelle says that “sport is an incredible outlet for young people where they can excel outside the classroom”.

Michelle is an inspiration to her students with a long list of awards to her name including AIL Winning Captain 2022-21 with Blackrock RFC, AIL Player of the Year 2022-23 and Leinster Rugby Player’s Player of the Year 2021-22 to name but a few!

A wonderful example of the world class sporting talent of which Our Lady’s College is very proud is 5th year student, Lily Sheeran, last year’s school Senior Sports Person of the Year who recently achieved gold at the World Karate Championship in Dundee.

Everyone in Our Lady’s College is incredibly proud of Lily’s achievement and speaking on behalf of the school’s Sports department, teacher Brian Kane has expressed his delight at Lily’s success, pointing out that her achievement is a “great example of where hard work and commitment can bring you”.

The whole school community wishes Lily continued success and looks forward to celebrating great sporting moments in the year ahead. Playing sport is all about participation, developing new skills and having fun.